In pursuing their aims of reducing health problems and eliminating potential risks to people’s health, health-care services inevitably create waste that may itself be hazardous to health. The waste produced in the course of health-care activities carries a higher potential for infection and injury than any other type of waste. Wherever it is generated, safe and reliable methods for its handling are therefore essential. Inadequate and inappropriate handling of health-care waste may have serious public health consequences and a significant impact on the environment. Sound management of health-care waste is thus a crucial component of environmental health protection.

In India, nearly 484 tonnes per day of bio-medical waste is been generated from 1,68,869 healthcare facilities HCF), out of which 447 tonnes per day is treated. The quantum of waste generated in India is estimated to be 1-2 kg per bed per day in a hospital and 600 gm per day per bed in a clinic. According to World Health Organization, 80-85% of total amount of waste generated by healthcare activities is the general waste. Only 15-20% waste is considered hazardous which may be infectious, injurious, toxic or radioactive. Poor management of healthcare waste exposes healthcare workers, waste handlers and the community to infections, toxic effects and injuries. Lack of awareness about the health hazards related to healthcare waste, inadequate training in proper waste management, absence of waste management and disposal systems, insufficient financial and human resources and the low priority given to the subject are the most common problems connected with healthcare waste management.

The BMW need to be properly segregated at source of its generation and colour coded for transportation, storage, appropriate treatment and disposal. In order to streamline the waste collection, processing and disposal practices in the country, the Government of India in 1998 notified rules known as the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. These Rules were revised from time to time. On March 28, 2016, the Government of India published the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 in supersession of the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. In the new BMW Rules, 2016, several changes and additions have been made to further improve the collection, segregation, processing, treatment and disposal of the biomedical wastes in an environmentally sound manner.

Safe and effective management of waste is not only a legal necessity but also a social responsibility. Lack of concern, motivation, awareness and cost factor are some of the problems faced in the proper biomedical waste management. Clearly there is a need for education as to the hazards associated with improper waste disposal. Education of the staff about the management of the biomedical waste is crucial in today’s health care arena.

To address this subject matter of importance, ASSOCHAM in collaboration with Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Govt. of NCT of Delhi, is organizing “Conference on Biomedical Waste Management: Issues, Challenges, Awareness & Opportunities” on 22nd March 2018 at Hotel Le-Meridien, New Delhi with an aim to bring together Administrators, Microbiologists, Central / State Pollution Control Board Officials, Central Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) Operators, Facility Managers, Doctors, Nurses, Management Personnel, Para Medical Staff and Other Stakeholders i.e. agencies for waste disposal, manufacturers of hospital disinfection material to exchange ideas, talk about best practices, showcase viable trends and products and enrich the scientific and medical community with its scientific content.

KEY OBJECTIVES & BENEFITS:

To discuss on issues and challenges in Managing Bio Medical Waste in India

To discuss the Present Trends and Practices in Bio Medical Waste Management and road map of Future Health Waste Management

To deliberate on implementation status of new BMWM Rules, 2016

To deliberate on new technologies, systems and facilities for efficient BMW treatment

Experience sharing of best practices and creating awareness among medical staff

Strategies for minimization and recycling of Hazardous and Non-hazardous Bio Medical Waste